Thermal Efficient Building Insulation System from Thermomass

University of New South Wales Village
(Student Accommodation)

One of the largest projects of its kind in Australia incorporating environmentally sustainable design and using THERMOMASS Building Insulation System in the 1200 insulated sandwich panels.

Within a month of its opening for the 2010 academic year the UNSW Student Village, housing over 1000 students, was fully occupied. Sustainable principles and passive solar design influenced all aspects of the design for the student village, comprising of 19 buildings ranging from one to nine storeys.

Thermal efficiency was high on the project's priority list and required an innovative approach to ensure the precast components of the design would deliver. The extensive precast elements, which helped deliver thermal efficiency, a flexible scope for future reconfiguration and speed of construction, were integral to the project. Off-form concrete does not perform well thermally in a single skin application. The solution was the use of the THERMOMASS insulated 'sandwich panel' which delivered a much higher thermal performance.

The THERMOMASS sandwich panels were manufactured with the structural layer poured first, the 50mm insulation placed and then the 60mm external concrete skin. The three layers are held together with non-conductive connectors or ties. These connectors enable the layers to move independently of each other, allowing for thermal expansion and contraction of the external skin without affecting the structural integrity of the element. The wall panels were prefabricated off site and brought in during the day, delivering significant savings to site costs, personnel and a reduction in associated OH&S risks. And use of precast panel construction will also enable relatively simple reconfiguration of the site should it be needed in the future.

Developer: Campus Living Villages Pty Ltd
Architect: Architectus
Engineer: The Bird Group
Builder: Watpac
Precast contractor: Hanson Precast
ESD consultant: Steensen Varming